Motorcycle Repair: oil leaking from exhaust of cylinder head where the header conects, oil pressure gauge, piston area

Question
QUESTION: I have a 1979 80 ci shovel and noticed oil leaking on my battery cover and right pant leg last summer. I just got done changing the primary cover gasket, fired the thing up, and after it warmed up, I noticed oil bleeding from the exhaust header gasket. What could be the cause? I know I've been lucky with the old valve guides since no more leaded gas. I have been using a lead additive when filling it up, but have run out of the stuff a few times during trips and didn't have a choice. I also had to replace the oil level tube on the inner primary because the brazing cracked and leaked. The design is really crappy and it's a bitch to get to. If I had to do it over, I'd plug it, and change the primary oil periodically. Can you give me some insight as to where to even start to check or look before I start to tear into it. Thanks - ALEX

ANSWER: Pull yur plug on that head and let me know if its oily
Mike

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QUESTION: Mike, I pulled both plugs, no oil on either. The front had black powder on it, while the rear had light brown powder. I did a compression test, front- 125 lbs., rear - 140 lbs.. The thing runs great without a miss through out the power range. I did find an oil leak in my 1/8" copper tubing going from the oil pump to my oil pressure gauge which I'm in the process of fixing.

ANSWER: Since your plugs are not oily, then it not coming from the piston area. Check your rocker box gasket for a leak or it might be the leak you found
Good luck and happy riding
Mike

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mike, when I put the new primary gasket on, I must of got a great seal on it because that's when all the other leaks started happening. I got all plugged up but one, and I think it's the seal in the inner primary on the trans. shaft. I have the bike up on a bike jack so I can see under it. When I put the thing into gear and run it with the rear wheel moving, I shut it down, and come back 6 or 8 hrs. later, there's oil on the floor. It is coming from the chain up at the front near the trans. When I just run the thing without the rear wheel moving, after the same amount of time elapses, and the oil on the floor is the size of a dime. Can you give me a heads up as to why the difference? Also, is there something I can add to the oil to make the seal do it's job, and/or do you think I can run the thing as it is for the summer, and rip it down next winter? Thanks - ALEX

Answer
It could be either the seal ont he back of the inner primary to the trans shaft or the main seal on the trans. The only way to be sure is to remove the inner primary and check. You can run it with the leak. It wont hurt anything, except your pride. There is nothing you can add to stop it. You have to change the seal
Good luck and happy riding
Mike